Damped apparatus for quick-stopping rotating members

ABSTRACT

Quick or instantaneous stopping of rapidly rotating members places severe stress loads on components. These loads are substantially reduced by providing a quick-stopping apparatus including a damped member having an attached element which is movable into engagement with a rotating member. In response to such engagement, the energy of the rotating member is rapidly decelerated through the damped member thus reducing peak stress loads associated with almost instantaneous deceleration.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to harvesters and more particularly tothose having condition responsive operation.

Recently, harvesters have been provided with metal detectors fordetecting metal in crop material. Metal detection is important sincemetal can damage harvester cutter mechanisms and, if ingested by farmanimals, can be fatal.

It has been found to be advantageous to place metal detectors in thevicinity of the feed rolls of a harvester. Thus, upon detection ofmetal, signals from the detector actuate a device which quick-stops therapidly rotating feed rolls in a fraction of a second. Such stopping,being almost instanteous, causes sever stress loads on drivelinecomponents and components of the stopping device.

In the past, a stop device has been provided to impact against aresilient member. Although some energy is absorbed by the resilientmember, the stopping action is almost instantaneous and the stress loadsare high thus limiting satisfactory lift of above-mentioned components.

The foregoing illustrates limitations of the known prior art. Thus, itis apparent that it would be advantageous to provide an alternativedirected to overcoming one or more of the limitations as set forthabove.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In one aspect of the present invention, this is accomplished byproviding an apparatus for quick-stopping a rotating member including areaction member supported for movement relative to the rotating member.Means are provided for damping movement of the reaction member. A stopis connected for movement with the reaction member and is also movablerelative to the reaction member between a first position, free ofengagement with the rotating member, and a second position in engagementwith the rotating member. Means are attached for moving the stop betweenthe first and second positions.

The above mentioned components permit an energy absorbing rapiddeceleration of the rotating member rather than a highly stressful,almost instantaneous stop.

The foregoing and other aspects will become apparent from the followingdetailed description of the invention when considered in conjunctionwith the accompanying drawings. It is to be expressly understood,however, that the drawings are not intended as a definition of theinvention but are for the purpose of illustration only.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view illustrating the preferred embodimentof the quick-stop apparatus of this invention out of engagement with arotatable member operably combined with a crop harvesting machine shownin inset;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view illustrating the preferred embodimentof FIG. 1 in engagement with the rotatable member;

FIG. 3 is a partial side-elevational view illustrating an alternativeembodiment of the quick-stop apparatus of this invention out ofengagement with a rotatable member;

FIG. 4 is a partial side elevational view illustrating the alternativeembodiment of FIG. 3 in engagement with the rotatable member; and

FIG. 5 is a partial side elevational view illustrating anotheralternative embodiment.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

In FIG. 1, an exemplary harvesting machine 10 includes an attachment 12for gathering crop material and feeding the material sequentially to anauger 14, then between a first pair of feed rolls 16,18, a second pairof feed rools 20,22 and then to a crop chopping or cutting device 24.Thereafter, the chopped crop material is delivered via a conveyor 26 tobe expelled from a spout 28. It is well known that many of these generalfeatures of a crop harvesting machine are common to both pull-type andself-propelled units.

Lower feed roll 18 has been found to be an advantageous location for aknown metal detector unit 30. Metal detected in the vicinity of the feedrolls causes a signal to be sent to a stop device which stops the feedrolls in a fraction of a second thus avoiding further passage of thedetected metal.

An advantageous quick-stop apparatus generally designated 32, isoperably connected to feed roll 18. An appropriate, well known linkageand drive system 34 ultimately connects the rotating feed roll 18 to anassociated rotating member such as a ratchet wheel 36 formed of asuitable metal and having a plurality of concave notches 38 formed aboutthe wheel circumference. Wheel 36 is mounted for rotation about an axisA in a direction indicated by an arrow designated R.

A shock absorber type reaction member, FIGS. 1 and 2, is generallydesignated 40 and is mounted adjacent wheel 36. Member 40 includes aslide 42 having a stop 70 and a stop mount 64. Slide 42 is supported bysupport sleeves 44,46. Slide 42, stop 70 and stop mount 64 are movablerelative to support sleeves 44,46 and relative to ratchet wheel 36. Thisis accomplished by slidably mounting the steel slide portion 42 in atleast one but preferably the two fixed tubular steel supports 44,46mounted on harvester 10.

Slide 42 includes a cylindrical portion 48 and a reduced diameterextension 50. Cylindrical portion 48 is slidably mounted in suports44,46. A suitable steel plate 52 is preferably welded to an end 54 ofportion 48 and an aperture 56 is formed in plate 52.

A plurality of steel plates 58 are carried by extension 50 betweensupport 44 and a threaded end of extension 50. Means, such as a pair ofelastomeric members 62 are carried by extension 50 in a mannerseparating plates 58, for damping movement of slide 42. This isaccomplished by movement of slide 42 in supports 44,46 in the directionindicated by an arrow designated C₁, for compressing members 62 betweenplates 58 in a position designated P_(c) (FIG. 2), thus absorbing energyimposed on slide 42. Obviously, energy thus absorbed by members 62 willmove slide 42 in the direction of an arrow designated C₂ returningmembers 62 in a relaxed position designated P_(R), see FIG. 1.Elastomeric members 62 are commercially available and are preferablyformed of neoprene.

The tubular stop mount 64 is preferably a steel casting having a bore 66formed therethrough. Mount 64 is removably attached to slide portion 42via a pin 68. In this manner, mount 64 reciprocates with slide portion42 and is limited from rotation by pin 68.

The stop 70 includes a dog-leg shaped steel flat pivotally attached tomount 64 at pin 72 having a pawl 74 fixedly attached thereto such as bywelding or the like. A rounded or convex end 76 of pawl 74 is formed formating engagement with concave notches 38. In this manner stop 70 ismovable with reaction member 40 and is also movable relative to reactionmember 40. Such relative movement is accomplished by stop 70 beingpivoted about pin 72 between a first position, free of engagement withratchet wheel 36, see FIG. 1, and a second position in engagement withwheel 36, see FIG. 2. A steel flat forms an extension 78 fixedlyattached to stop 70 such as by welding or the like.

Means, such as a solenoid 80 and a tension spring 82, are connected formoving stop 70 between the first and second positions. In the preferredembodiment, see FIGS. 1 and 2, solenoid 80 is connected to extension 78at pin 84 by a suitable flexible steel cable 86 for pivoting stop 70about pin 72. A suitable brace 88 retains solenoid 80 in a fixedposition relative to reaction member 40. Brace 88 is secured to machine10 by welding or the like. Thus, solenoid 80 is in a fixed positionrelative to the movable reaction member 40. Resilient steel tensionspring 82 interconnects stop 70 and plate 52 of slide 42. One end ofspring 82 is secured through aperture 56 of plate 52 and another end ofspring 82 is secured through an aperture 90 formed in stop 70. Solenoid80 is preferably a commercially available Series 1500 sold under thetradename SYNCHRO-START.

In FIG. 1, solenoid 80 is illustrated in an energized mode wherein stop70 is pivoted by cable 86 to the first position as previously described.In FIG. 2, solenoid 80 is illustrated in a deenergized mode wherein stop70 is pivoted by spring 82 to the second position as previouslydescribed.

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate an alternative embodiment which is basicallythe same as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2. One difference is thatplate 52a of slide 42a also functions as a brace for supporting solenoid80a. Thus, solenoid 80a moves with slide 42a but has a greater exposureto shock loads and vibration. Also, in the alternative embodiments ofFIGS. 3 and 4, since solenoid 80a moves with slide 42a rather thanrelative to it, a rigid rod 90, rather than a cable 86 (FIGS. 1 and 2),can be pivotally linked to a rigid arm 92 which is pivotally linked toextension 78a for interconnecting solenoid 80a and stop 70a.

The alternative embodiment of FIG. 5 includes a reaction member 40badjacent ratchet wheel 36b. Member 40b includes a slide 42b having astop 70b. Slide 42b is supported by a stationary support rod 90 securedby bolts 96 in support flanges 92,94. Flanges 92,94 are affixed tomachine 10. Stop 70b is pivotally carried on slide 42b for movementbetween the first and second positions as previously discussed. Rod 90includes a first diameter portion 96 separated from a reduced diameterportion 98 by a shoulder 100 and an abutting washer 101. Slide 42b isurged into engagement with washer 101 by a pair of concentric steelcompression springs 102,104. Upon engagement of stop 70b with ratchetwheel 36b, slide 42b moves relative to support rod 90 and flanges 92,94for compressing springs 102,104 thus damping movement of slide 42b.Solenoid 80b is secured on machine 10 and a flexible cable 86b connectsto move stop 70b to the first position when solenoid 80b is energized. Aspring 82b moves stop 70b to the second position when solenoid 80b isdeenergized. The significant difference here is that slide 42b slides ona stationary rod 90 and concentric springs 102,104 are used rather thanelastomeric members 62.

With the parts assembled as set forth above, it can be seen that whenstop 70 is in the first position as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2,ratchet wheel 36 can freely rotate in direction R. Upon deenergizationof solenoid 80, spring 82 pivots stop 70 about pin 72 urging pawl 74into one of the notches 38. Forces acting on stop 70 are transmitted toslide 42 of reaction member 40 thus moving slide 42 in direction C₁relative to solenoid 80, which compresses elastic elements 62 intoposition P_(c) between plates 58. After the forces are dissipated,elements 62 relax to position P_(R) and slide 42 moves in direction C₂.

In the alternative embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 3 and 4, solenoid 80ais fixedly attached to slide 42a and thus moves with slide 42a ratherthan remaining stationary. In the alternative embodiment illustrated inFIG. 5, compression springs 102,104 are used to damp movement of slide42b mounted on stationary rod 90.

The foregoing has described a damped apparatus for quick-stoppingrotating members wherein the energy of the rotating member is rapidlydecelerated through a damped member thus reducing peak stress loadsassociated with almost instantaneous deceleration.

It is anticipated that aspects of the present invention, other thanthose specifically defined in the appended claims, can be obtained fromthe foregoing description and the drawings.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:
 1. A dampedapparatus for quick-stopping a rotating member .Iadd.which is connectedto rotate with a feed roll of a crop harvesting machine, said dampedapparatus .Iaddend.comprising:a reaction member supported adjacent saidrotating member, said reaction member including a slide and a slidesupport, said slide movable relative to said support; a stop carried bysaid slide, said stop movable relative to said slide between a firstposition, free of engagement with said rotating member, and a secondposition in engagement with said rotating member; means connected fordamping movement of said slide in response to said stop being in saidsecond position; and means connected for moving said stop between saidfirst and second positions.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidstop is pivotally connected to said slide.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1wherein said means for moving said stop includes a solenoid and aresilient member.
 4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said stop ispivotable to said first position in response to said solenoid beingenergized.
 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein said stop is pivotable tosaid second position by said resilient member in response to saidsolenoid being deenergized.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein saidmeans for damping includes at least one resilient member connected forcompression in response to movement of said slide.
 7. The apparatus ofclaim 3 wherein said slide includes a plate at one end and said solenoidis connected to said plate. .[.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein saidrotating member is connected to rotate with a feed roll of a cropharvesting machine..].
 9. In a combination with a crop harvestingmachine including a metal detector operably mounted in the vicinity of afeed roll of the harvester, a damped apparatus for quick-stoppingrotation of the feed roll comprising:a rotatable member connected forrotating with the feed roll; a reaction member supported on theharvester, said reaction member including a slide support and a slide,said slide movable relative to said support; a stop carried by saidslide and mounted for pivotal movement relative to said slide, saidmovement being between a first position, free of engagement with saidrotatable member, and a second position in engagement with saidrotatable member; means connected for damping movement of said slide inresponse to said stop being in said second position; and means formoving said stop between said first and said second positions, saidmeans including a solenoid connected to be energized for pivoting saidstop into said first position and including a resilient member connectedfor pivoting said stop into said second position in response to saidsolenoid being deenergized.